MIKE WATKINSON described him as 'a world-class player who just wants to do well for Lancashire'.

David Fulton, the frustrated Kent captain, was more direct.

"I had the honour and pleasure of playing with him for five years but today he was just a pain in the bum," said David.

The object of their admiration slipped away from Blackpool without saying a word. Maybe he thought he had done his talking on the pitch where his memorable century had preserved Lancashire's unbeaten championship record.

Carl Hooper's 128 not out will long be remembered. The 36-year- old West Indian went to the crease at high noon with Lancashire on the floor at 12-3 needing another 225 to avoid an innings defeat.

Thunderous

Almost six hours later he walked off to a thunderous ovation, with four sixes, 17 fours and his first championship century under the Red Rose banner.

At Kent, where he played five seasons between 1992 and 1998, he scored 22 centuries and finished as the only player in their history with a 50-plus average.

When you consider some of the names in that history it gives you an idea of why he is still so highly regarded in hops country.

Fulton admitted: "When he plays like that he is just different class."

It wasn't flawless, there were perhaps a couple of chances, and he was hit more times than in any of his previous Lancashire innings.

But, with the ball swinging venomously and sometimes shooting through at ankle height, it was a remarkable performance just to hang on in there. To play some of the shots that Hooper produced was almost unbelievable.

When off-spinner James Tredwell threatened to cause problems, Hooper belted him for 4,4, 6 off successive balls. Later he hoisted him for another six, leaving a mark on the perimeter wall.

Watkinson said: "It was a different sort of innings from him in that he had to save the game rather than try to win it.

"That meant he had to think about taking up time but also about scoring runs and when he hit the shot which took us into the lead, Kent knew then that it was all over."

Lancashire were 244-6 when Warren Hegg, who had partnered Hooper in a defiant stand, shook hands with Fulton. Nine points keeps Lancashire with a glimmer of hope in the title battle.

"Not for the first time this season the team showed a lot of character, " said Watkinson. "Losing the toss on this wicket made it hard for us. Unless anything dramatically untoward happened, Kent were certain to make a lot of runs."

Sky TV replays suggested that a couple of early umpiring decisions went Kent's way, but over a season these things tend to level out and Lancashire weren't complaining.

But, at 12-3 and then 55-4, it demanded something extra special - and that's what Hooper provided.